Topical Bible: The Poor: The Wicked: Sell

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In the biblical context, the treatment of the poor and the actions of the wicked are subjects of significant moral and ethical concern. The Bible frequently addresses the plight of the poor and the responsibilities of the righteous towards them, while also condemning the actions of the wicked who exploit or neglect the needy.

The Poor in Scripture

The Bible consistently emphasizes God's concern for the poor and the expectation that His people will act justly and compassionately towards them. In the Old Testament, the Law provided specific instructions for the care of the poor, including leaving gleanings in the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10) and the Year of Jubilee, which included the release of debts (Leviticus 25:10). The prophets often rebuked Israel for failing to uphold these commands, highlighting the nation's moral decline (Isaiah 1:17, Amos 5:11-12).

In the New Testament, Jesus' ministry further underscores the importance of caring for the poor. He identifies with the poor and marginalized, teaching that acts of kindness towards them are acts of service to Him (Matthew 25:40). The early church also demonstrated a commitment to supporting the poor, as seen in the communal sharing of resources (Acts 2:44-45).

The Wicked and Their Treatment of the Poor

The Bible portrays the wicked as those who oppress and exploit the poor, often for personal gain. This behavior is condemned throughout Scripture. In the book of Proverbs, the wicked are described as those who "crush the needy in court" (Proverbs 22:22-23) and "plunder the poor" (Proverbs 28:3). Such actions are seen as an affront to God's justice and righteousness.

The Psalms also reflect this theme, with the psalmists crying out for God's intervention against those who "devour my people as though they were eating bread" (Psalm 14:4). The wicked are depicted as having no regard for the plight of the poor, acting with arrogance and cruelty.

Selling the Poor

One of the most egregious actions of the wicked, as highlighted in Scripture, is the selling of the poor for profit. This is explicitly condemned in the book of Amos, where the prophet denounces those who "sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals" (Amos 2:6). This imagery underscores the dehumanization and commodification of the poor, reducing them to mere objects of trade.

The selling of the poor is not only a violation of human dignity but also a direct affront to God's covenantal justice. It reflects a society that has strayed far from the divine mandate to love one's neighbor and uphold justice for the vulnerable.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The biblical narrative calls for a stark contrast between the actions of the wicked and the righteous. The righteous are called to defend the cause of the poor, to act with integrity, and to ensure that justice prevails. The wicked, in their exploitation and neglect of the poor, stand in opposition to God's will and face divine judgment.

Throughout Scripture, the treatment of the poor serves as a litmus test for the moral and spiritual health of a community. The Bible calls believers to reflect God's heart for the poor, to act justly, and to resist the temptations of greed and exploitation that characterize the wicked.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Amos 2:6
Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Eighth Commandment
... His Word: "Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and ... the new moon be
gone, that we may sell corn ... that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

Ahab and Naboth
... was wrong; for when Naboth refused to sell him the ... my friends"and be you rich or
poor, take heed ... past, one can hardly believe that such wicked thoughts ever ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xi ahab and naboth.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... A man's desire is his kindness and a poor man is ... Yet we sell, endanger, and venture
all for that ... acquainted with, in league and friendship with wicked men, when ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... Alas, poor soul ... most fiercely assaulted with this temptation, To sell and part with
Christ; the wicked suggestion still running in my mind, Sell Him, sell ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Give and Receive Money for Spiritual ...
... the flock?" Hence it is simoniacal to sell or buy ... Wicked prophets, however, abused
this exercise by demanding payment ... Those who give alms to the poor in order ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 23.htm

Whether it is Lawful for an Advocate to Take a Fee for Pleading?
... of what they have extorted by a wicked excess, but ... of mercy: else no man could lawfully
sell anything, since ... mercifully pleads the cause of a poor man, should ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 9.htm

Psalm XII.
... many preach the truth impurely; [468] for they sell it for ... eternity" (ver.7): here
as needy and poor, there as ... on them the wheel of the wicked."After Thine ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xii.htm

On the Last Judgment and the Resurrection, Hell, Purgatory, and ...
... Sometimes the wicked do good actions here on earth"help ... What does it benefit the
poor creatures in Hell to ... Why, then, did they sell their souls for so little ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 37 on the last.htm

We Ought not to Allow the Idea of Profit to Get Hold of Us. ...
... I sell my own corn, not another's. ... thou art on the lookout to see when the crop is
poor and the ... Thou callest it a remedy, when it is but a wicked contrivance. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi we ought not.htm

Antichrist in the Psalms
... In v.2 we read, "The Wicked in his pride doth ... 14, and "humble" in v.17 should be
"poor" " emphasizing the ... result are suffered to neither buy nor sell (see Rev ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/antichrist in the psalms .htm